Breaking All the Rules (10 page)

Colin recovered smoothly, his eyes dancing on her face as he continued to strum, “Never.”

“Wonderful. It’ll make mu job much easier in the long run,” She slipped out of her heels and wiggled her stocking covered toes in front of her.

Tyler rubbed the back of his head, “So… you’re here to talk about your job?”

She wasn’t really sure why she was there. She’d been at the apartment a handful of times since the band moved to the city. She helped them settle in, monitored a few house parties, but never made friendly house calls. That’s what they were- friends, she realized as she slid onto the couch and extended her legs out until they almost touched a very still Cap. For as much of a front as she put up about keeping her business life and personal life separate, she did a very lousy job of it. She was a handful for the guys and they were a handful for her, but after a very tense business meeting and run in with Benson, she wanted friends. Lora, busy with class, was unavailable. She went to the next best thing.

“Personal visit,” She finally said with a smile she hoped didn’t read as flirty.

Tyler leaned against the wall with a raised brow, “Reconsider the whole business and pleasure, thing?”

She laughed, “Not in your wildest dreams, sweet cheeks.”

“They are his wildest dreams,” Ryan quipped, laughing when Tyler shot him a nasty glare.

“I just had a bad day and wanted to unwind a little,” She looked at the coffee table cluttered with empty beer bottles and crumpled energy drink cans. She was thankful not to see any drugs. Burnside partied, but they had their heads on straight. Another reason she was so eager to get them signed to Monarch. “And before you say a word, Tyler Abbott, no.”

“What?” He laughed as he crossed the room, bringing her a beer from the fridge. His fingers lingered on hers as he handed her the bottle, making her stomach jump.

“I will not be unwinding in your bedroom,” She took a long drink and looked at the flutter of laughing boys around her. She felt safe. “Hey! By the way, I had a meeting today going over the final stuff for next week’s show with Charlotte’s Drive.”

She unraveled from the couch and crossed the room to her purse and the stack of papers on the table by the door. Colin spoke as she walked, “I still can’t believe we’re playing with Charlotte’s Drive.”

She grabbed the stack of papers, frowning when she felt a piece of folded paper slid among the stack. Quickly, Mia grabbed it and unfolded it. In elegant streaks of penmanship was a quick note from Benson.

I miss the way you taste. We need to talk. – B

She swallowed hard as she shoved the note into her purse. She’d been an ass, parading around in the conference room. No… he’d been an ass. He’d been an ass from the start. Shaking it off, she spun holding the first page of the report out proudly to show the group their logo displayed under Charlotte’s Drive’s.

“Believe it, boys.”

Big goofy grins fell onto their faces as they cheered. She thought back to her first big breakthrough as a manager. At 21, a senior in college fresh out of a messy relationship and heading on a cleaner path, she was determined to prove her worth. She fell in with a band and poured every moment of her free time into booking them gigs and running their merch. She marked them on the internet, coordinating social media sites and promoting them until they finally got a gig with a big name local band. A few weeks later the band signed a record deal. Halfway through recording their debut record they broke up. Band breakups were messy and costly. That one in particular was a blow to her ego.

“I think that,” Cap pointed at the paper. “Is cause for a party.”

“Absolutely not,” Tyler stepped in, “We’ve got a meeting at 9 am with video production and that director, and then we’re recording after lunch.”

“Video production?” Mia quirked up.

“You’re a pain in my ass,” Cap grumbled, moving his attention to his phone.

Tyler ignored Cap and cocked his head at Mia, “Do you actually do your job or just sit there and look pretty?”

“Excuse me?” She recoiled.

“Dude!” Colin exclaimed. Though his mouth was open with shock, it was obvious he wore a laughing smile.

“He’s worried about the album,” Ryan, a man of few words, said from the other end of the room.

Mia knew that feeling. She knew it well. And if Tyler didn’t snap together, he’d end up with a disgruntled bunch of musicians seeking out a different manager. Though irritated with his fangs, she tried to offer some comfort, “The album is fine, Tyler. You’re doing your job. They’re doing their job. And apparently I’m not doing mine. What about video production?”

He rubbed his jaw, wanting to produce an apology. Instead he addressed her last question, “The studio wants a video for Stella.”

Stella was Mia’s favorite Burnside song. It was exceptionally raunchy but so upbeat it made everyone dance. A perfect first song to send out to the masses. To ease their visible worry over the situation, she smiled and admitted, “That’s my favorite song.”

“Of course it is,” Cap grinned.

“I may or may not listen to it like, three times a day. It makes the subway more enjoyable.”

“Mia Barnes dabbling in flattery? Hell must be freezing over,” Tyler was in a piss poor mood, nursing his second beer since her arrival.

“You’ve adopted such a New York attitude, Tyler. See? I told you you’d get the hang of being an asshole,” She bit out, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe.

“Since you’re such a big fan,
maybe
we can play it for you,” Colin winked.

“I could just go see you play tomorrow in the studio. Not like I haven’t seen you play it before. And I’m not sure playing Stella acoustically would be a good idea.”

“It sounds good,” Tyler huffed, his defense of his band bringing a smile to Mia’s face.

She nodded and shrugged at the boys. It was obvious they were proud of their music. Cap picked up his instrument and Colin adjusted his. They looked perfectly at home, lazing around drinking beer and tenderly cooing to their instruments every so often. The first few notes of the song filled the room, and Mia had to admit Tyler was right, it sounded good acoustic. Not as good as it did with the whole band rocking out the tune, but it still packed a punch. She tapped along to the music, her eyes closing as she tilted her head back and rested it on the wall.

Cherry lips, big hips.

Mia drifted out into the middle of the living room, not being able to help how much the song made her want to dance. She spun around playfully, looking at Tyler when she stopped and caught her breath. He was busy on his phone, completely ignoring her. He was usually flirting with her, or at least, being nice to her when she was caddy with him. Her chest hurt. Benson and Tyler were both over her. Determined, for some reason, to catch Tyler’s attention she danced to the song like she did around her room. She pretended Benson was pressed against her as she ground her body over his hardness.

I taste you in my sleep, got me beggin’ for more.

The curve of your lips and the sway of your hips,

you can tame the beast with the slightest look.

              Now you’re pressed against the wall,

              my teeth on your neck and your hands in my pants,

              S-S-S-Stella, you’re my dream,

              S-S-S-Stella, let me take you home.

              There was something euphoric about the way she danced. Though not alone in the room, she felt as if she were. She had replaced every mention of Stella with Benson’s name as she played out the lyrics in her head, imagining the dirty passionate sex portrayed in the song. When the last strum hit, Mia opened her eyes, faced the crowd, and bowed. She had gotten Tyler’s attention, though he was looking at her pensively as if he were searching for an answer to an unknown question. Ryan clapped and pretended to throw flowers at her feet.

              She stayed until it was time to go to LuLu’s and meet with Lora. Tyler managed to loosen up slightly, even cracking a few jokes as she hung out with them in their living room playing video games and chatting about New York City. She tried to keep the conversation off of work. Getting signed and recording an album was scary, and though the boys of Burnside didn’t show their fear, it was obviously wearing on Tyler. She left with a wave, thankful that she’d gotten the chance to bond with them.

              It wasn’t that stepping up from management to Public Relations took the fun out of music. It was a great opportunity, and she always had her hands in so many corners of the industry. PR was a well needed break from the constant rush that accompanied management. After spending the afternoon with Burnside, she missed management terribly while breathing happily at the thought of getting out. It wasn’t just Aaron that worked into her downward spiral- it was the whole scene. He was the catalyst. She’d grind against DJs, slipping Aaron’s bands mixtape in their jeans as she sauntered away. She bought heroin, cocaine- whatever drug the band wanted that night, twiddling her thumbs while she stood by and watched them. Some nights Aaron made her smoke weed with them, other times he handed her a small medicine cup of pills. She usually took them. He pushed her as a woman and as manager until she snapped. Though she managed bands after his, that aspect of friendship, love and music was lost on her. Grant gave her the opportunity she needed to go further.

              LuLu’s was a tiny café close to campus. It was full of the typical hues and décor of coffee shop. The reds and brows paired with stock paintings coffee beans and cups weren’t modern or new, but they were warm and safe. The small building was always unpredictable. Some days it would be so busy Lora and Mia had to sit on a bench across the street as they drank their lattes in take away cups. Other days there would be just a handful of people lingering around tables and ordering their drinks. When Mia arrived, it was a blended mix. It wasn’t extremely busy, but there was limited table space. She was glad to see Lora waving at her from a small wood table for two near the window. When Mia walked through the doors and set her bag on the chair across from Lora, her friend’s eyebrows raised,

              “New outfit?”

              “New outfit,” Mia confirmed. “I thought I told you it was my treat?”

              Lora looked down at her large cup of creamy brown latte then back up at Mia, “I got here early.”

              “Fine. Want a donut or anything?” Mia pulled her wallet out of the purse.

              Lora laughed as she lifted up a wadded up piece of paper, “Already had one.”

              “You’re impossible!”

              Mia was back at the table within a few minutes with a drink that mocked Lora’s and a small pastry. She nearly ate the entire treat in one bite, “So who is Zach?”

              “Another professor in my building. Where have you been the past few days?”

              They played the back and forth game when they were fighting, or rather, making up. It made clean up slightly easier for the two.

              “Wallowing in my misery. Is he a silver fox?”

              Lora laughed, “He’s my age, Mia. He’s really cute. Wears glasses and has a big nose. He focuses a lot on World War II, teaches a course or two on it. He’s nice.”

              “I’m glad,” Mia gave a genuine smile. Lora was pretty, but she was focused on securing her job at the university. She rarely ever went on dates.

              “So now that I’ve answered your pressing questions about Zach-”

              “Actually,” Mia smirked. “Have you guys had sex yet?”

              “This is our first date.”

              “That doesn’t mean anything to me,” Mia laughed, knowing Lora was well aware of her sexual history.

              “I like him,” Lora shrugged. “I want to take it slow. Anyway, before you
interrupted
me, what the fuck has been going on lately?”

              With Mrs. Tate being long gone, Mia decided to start from the beginning. The dirty, raunchy beginning. She told Lora everything she could remember, everything she could think of. She indulged in the dirtiest of details. Though frustrated and hurt with Benson, she wanted to display his sexual prowess on a pedestal, as if it already wasn’t well known. She told Lora about the way he touched her in the middle of a crowded venue, how the way he held her after Aaron made her heart warm. Their sex that night was beyond words. He filled her dirty fantasizes in ways she didn’t even know possible- cleaned her tenderly- then left. Lora marveled over the presence of the SUV Bentley outside Mia’s apartment and office, cringed at the Monday phone call and shot a disapproving look when Mia recounted the events of that morning.

              By the time Mia was done talking both of their coffees were gone. She was glad Lora was a listener. She was a damn good listener, which was good considering how much Mia liked to talk. Mia talked so much that Lora was running behind. Not wanting to keep her friend from her pre-date rituals, they parted. Mia took the subway car, missing the luxury of Benson’s car. She’d settle for any car, really. Anything that kept her away from the creatures of the subway.

              At home, she carefully found a spot for her new heels and stripped her clothes off, throwing them in her stackable washer with a load of laundry that had been threatening to overflow onto her bathroom floor. She put on a pair of grey cotton shorts and a worn tee of a band she used to manage. With her hair in a loose ponytail she dug through her pantry trying to find something quick and easy to make for dinner as to spare her bank account any more damage.